Jilin is a province in northeast China bordering North Korea and Russia, known for Changbai Mountain and its Heaven Lake crater, Changchun's Manchukuo-era palace and film heritage, Jilin City's winter rime ice, and the Korean-Chinese culture of Yanbian. The Tumen and Yalu rivers form its southern frontier, and Goguryeo tombs at Ji'an are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Winters are long and cold, with excellent skiing.
Top spas
Curated picks for treatments and day spas.
Changbai Mountain Hot Spring Group (长白山温泉群)
Naturally steaming springs at 60-80 C near the Changbai Waterfall, where visitors can boil eggs and watch mineral-rich water flow; bathing is generally limited to pools at nearby resorts.
Signature treatment: Natural steaming springs and boiled eggs at the waterfall trail
Julong Volcano Hot Spring (聚龙火山温泉)
A hot spring resort on the north slope of Changbai Mountain using volcanic spring water for outdoor pools, forest settings and snow-view bathing in winter.
Signature treatment: Outdoor volcanic spring pools in forest
Wanda Changbai Mountain International Resort Hot Spring (万达长白山国际度假区温泉)
A large international ski and leisure resort on the west slope of Changbai Mountain with hot spring bathing, spa treatments and winter skiing.
Signature treatment: Hot spring bathing combined with resort skiing
Chagan Lake Hot Spring (查干湖温泉)
A hot spring on the edge of Chagan Lake, combined with the lake's winter fishing tradition and Mongol cultural experiences; popular in winter when the lake freezes.
Signature treatment: Hot spring bathing after winter fishing at Chagan Lake
Changchun University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital (长春中医药大学附属医院)
One of Jilin's leading TCM hospitals, offering acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion and tui na by specialist doctors; foreign visitors register at the outpatient counter.
Signature treatment: Acupuncture and tui na by hospital specialists
Jingyuetan National Forest Park (净月潭国家森林公园)
A large forest and reservoir park south-east of Changchun with walking trails, cycling lanes and forest bathing; also used for winter skiing and ice-and-snow events.
Signature treatment: Forest walks, cycling and lakeside forest bathing
Songhua Lake Scenic Area (松花湖风景区)
A large reservoir lake south of Jilin City with island resorts, ferries and lakeside hotels; used for boating, quiet walks and winter ice-and-snow activities.
Signature treatment: Lake cruises and quiet lakeside resorts
Changbai Mountain Underground Forest (长白山地下森林)
A sunken canyon forest on the north slope of Changbai Mountain with boardwalks through dense old-growth woodland; a calm nature-walk complement to the hot springs nearby.
Signature treatment: Boardwalk forest bathing in a volcanic canyon
Wellness travel tips
Get the most from your wellness experience.
Book treatments in advance — popular slots fill up quickly during peak season.
Hydrate well before and after treatments, especially massages and saunas.
Communicate any allergies or skin sensitivities before treatments begin.